Tips on Planning Built-In Storage

Having decided on your home's storage space, here are some tips on planning built-in storage.

A sketch of the area for the built-in storage would be a good starting point and for the whole house, it'd be good to map out the respective rooms. This involves taking detailed measurements and it is important to be as accurate as possible. Fitted storage is particularly intolerant of mistakes, and any anomalies will be all too glaring once the cupboard is built and the shelves have gone up. Get help if you're not confident doing the measurements yourself.

The next step is to use the measurements taken to draw up a plan. I'd suggest using graph paper and work to a reasonable scale. This allows you to assess the impact of what you'd like to propose for the respective rooms.

Once the plan is completed, try out different storage solutions. Take a look at catalogues and furniture showrooms to appreciate the common height and depth of fitted units so you don't commission storage that is too tight or too roomy for what you intend to put into it.

One way to avoid this is to draw up the shapes of fitted elements separately, using the same scale, cut them up and move them about on your drawing to test out suitable locations. At this point, I'd like to remind you to give free access to the storage contents; this means drawers can be pulled out easily and cupboard doors can swing open without hitting other furniture.

It's also important to include the quantity and dimensions of the object you're intending to store. When in doubt, measure the item or items and add in a generous margin for future purchases.

One good example of a popular built-in storage design is to include cubicles to provide useful means of organizing different types of belongings. This can be extended to cover an entire wall so the storage looks neat and well considered.

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Simple Garage Floors - Protection and Beauty

There are many types of garage floors available today. The most popular types are rolled, tile and epoxy paint. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages but for the purposes of this article, we are going to focus on the simplest types of flooring for a garage; rolled and tile. Epoxy flooring is quite impressive in appearance but the time and effort involved in installing one is best left to the experts.

The most cost effective and easiest garage floors to install are the rolled variety. In fact, many people are drawn to rolled floors because of their easy installation. The average homeowner can install their own garage flooring in just a couple hours with basic tools. Rolled floors come in a variety of colors and textures that will suit anyone's tastes. The most common textures are ribbed, diamond plate, coin and levant.

Garage floor textures play an important part in the decision process. Aside from the amazing appearance a new floor for your garage can add to your home, they also provide anti-fatigue benefits, sound deadening qualities, and improved safety. Ribbed style floors allow liquids to be channeled away which helps keep your floor safe from spills. In addition all textures, including ribbed, offer some anti-slip properties. However, it is important to keep in mind that manufacturers do not consider their garage flooring to be slip resistant with one stating, "There is no substitute for keeping a clean, well-maintained floor."

Garage tiles are also becoming quite popular. They offer many of the same qualities of rolled garage flooring but with an entirely different look. Garage tile floors are usually mixed and matched to give a checker board pattern. Some homeowners even create boarders and other designs in their floors.

The Peel & Stick Tiles are one of the easiest garage tiles to install. You simply peel the backing and apply the tile to the prepared garage floor. The peel and stick type of floor tiles are better than the rigid types simply because they prevent dead spots under the floor. These dead spots can allow spills to collect which makes cleanup difficult. Peel and Stick Tiles are soft and conform to your floor eliminating dead spots. In addition, these tiles do not allow liquids to collect under the floor making cleanup simple and easy.

Whether installing rolled or tile garage flooring, the low cost and impressive benefits make it a quality home improvement project that will add beauty, safety and value to your home.

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Apartment Garage Plan - Design the Perfect Solution

Apartment garage plans are all over the country these days. More and more households decide to completely overhaul their homes to gain as much space as possible by integrating their garage to their main house. It is important if the idea tempts you, to choose an apartment garage plan that is both nice and practical.

What do you need to design the perfect garage that is housed beneath your apartment?

Where Do You Get Design Tools?

An apartment garage design is made very easy when you use planning and design tools. There are virtually hundreds of software applications that assist you in the design process. I personally favour this route. Once you have learned the basics of using the software, designing your new garage is generally quite straightforward. Many of my friends have tried out few of these and they have found the experience very enjoyable, once gone past the learning curve.

Another alternative is to buy ready-to-use blueprints. Those who design the entire plan from scratch will find this particularly useful. If you are only redesigning an existing garage, you may not have much choice in terms of design and planning because in most cases, you are limited by the location and layout of the existing construction. Even in such case, taking down a few walls and changing the floor layout to adapt it to your desired plan, may help you gain some extra space.

The Aesthetics Must Be Right

If, like me, you don't have a degree in architecture, it's still important to keep in mind the issue of aesthetics: how does your new construction integrate with its surroundings and the immediate neighbourhood? Is the driveway practical and of an easy access? Remember that a garage apartment needs not simply look nice on the blueprint; it also has to translate into a construction that's both practical and useable.

The interior design, that is the wall colour, the cabinet size and design as well as the type of material used etc should be carefully planned to create an agreeable overall experience. It's an excellent idea to browse a few templates online to get some inspiration.

The Ultimate Space-Saving Tips

Garage space is generally reduced. Functionality is generally a big concern when it comes to an apartment garage plan. Try to use space-friendly furniture like foldable tables and chairs.

It's also a good idea to keep things simple by place only essential furniture like a storage cabinet for your books, a work area and a comfortable chair. It's also important to choose the correct lighting fixture to create the ideal mood.

Wall shelves are very useful for keeping your garden tools, car repair kits etc. Try to use racks and hooks to gain a maximum space on the ceiling and the walls. Also get yourself a safe to keep hazardous goods like chemical, fertilizers etc. This holds particularly true if you intend using the garage as storing space.

Finally and before designing your apartment garage plan is to check with your local regulations. In addition, enquire in advance what paperwork is needed as well as the type of construction is allowable.

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